Heat capacity ratio

The heat capacity ratio (also called the adiabatic index, ratio of specific heats, or isentropic expansion factor) is the ratio of heat capacity at constant pressure to heat capacity at constant volume. It governs adiabatic processes and influences the speed of sound in a medium.

Notes:

1. One can also use intensive heat capacities, e.g. specific or molar, in place of the extensive heat capacities presented here.

Links:

1. Wikipedia – Heat capacity ratio

heat_capacity_ratio

adiabatic_index of the system.

Symbol:

gamma

Latex:

\(\gamma\)

Dimension:

dimensionless

isobaric_heat_capacity

heat_capacity of the system at constant pressure.

Symbol:

C_p

Latex:

\(C_{p}\)

Dimension:

energy/temperature

isochoric_heat_capacity

heat_capacity of the system at constant volume.

Symbol:

C_V

Latex:

\(C_{V}\)

Dimension:

energy/temperature

definition

gamma = C_p / C_V

Latex:

\[\gamma = \frac{C_{p}}{C_{V}}\]